Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Kickstarter project wants to create a new tourism website for Washington State
Washington State has plenty to offer the tourist, including incredible natural wonders, such as Mount Rainier and Puget Sound, and one of the coolest cities in the country in Seattle. Despite this, Washington is unable to afford a state-funded tourism board. In July, Washington State became the only state in the nation without a statewide tourism office.While this sad set of circumstances would deter many a Washington tourism booster from taking any action, one Kickstarter user has decided to use the opportunity to create a new website and interactive platform to promote tourism in Washington State. Travel writer, media startup pro, voluntourism advocate, and Seattle native Charyn Pfeuffer is hoping to launch GoWAState.com by spring 2012 with the funds she raises on Kickstarter. Pfeuffer's funding request is for $50,000, all of which she must raise prior to the project's October 8 deadline.
If funded, GoWAState.com would offer typical tourism website fare, such as city and regional profiles, a travel planning section, maps, and a blog. It would also incorporate social media, community boards, subscription web deals, and professional photography. GoWAState.com is not intended to replace the Washington State tourism office, Pfeuffer claims in her project description. Rather, Pfeuffer wants to "share [Washington State's] diversity with visitors and local weekend warriors via an engaging new resource."
Take a look at the GoWAState.com project's introductory video below. Do you think it has what it takes to meet its goal?
[Photo credit: Flickr user nonsequiturlass]
Filed under: North America, United States, Internet Tools










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
likeaG6 Aug 10th 2011 1:39PM
So this travel writer wants people to give donations, like a charity, to pay her a salary to build herself a for-profit tourism website? Am I missing something here?
Charyn Pfeuffer Aug 10th 2011 2:01PM
The funds would help cover the cost of hiring a web designer, writers to create original content, photographers, and a small team of "stringers" around the state to report on local happenings. This kind of creative project/ambitious endeavor is exactly what Kickstarter is geared toward.
Charyn Pfeuffer Aug 10th 2011 1:51PM
Thank you, Melanie for sharing my Kickstarter project with Gadling readers. It's my hope to create a comprehensive resource for travelers, created and curated by experts and travelers – independent of bureaucratic organizations, member-run chambers and paid content. GoWAState.com’s rule of thumb is this: If we wouldn’t recommend something to our friends, we won’t put it on the site. I'm tired of informational only, one sided resources (like its state run predecessor) and want to share WA State's abundance of great things with travelers in a variety of interactive forums. I want to create a presence where people can actively engage in conversation and exchange travel ideas and experiences. I want to hear from WA State travelers about what tools they want to see. Because ultimately, I want GoWAState.com to be the best resource for helping WA State travelers create experiences/memories.
Cameron Aziz Aug 10th 2011 9:14PM
What is wrong with www.experiencewa.com?